Airbag Injuries In Charlotte, NC
Airbags serve a crucial role in vehicle safety, designed to cushion occupants during collisions and prevent more severe harm. While these devices save countless lives each year, they can also cause significant injuries under certain circumstances. When airbags deploy with excessive force, fail to deploy when needed, or malfunction due to manufacturing defects, victims can suffer serious harm that requires immediate medical attention and long-term treatment.
If you’ve been injured by an airbag in a Charlotte car accident, whether due to the force of deployment or a defective product, Stewart Law Offices can help. Our experienced Charlotte car accident lawyers understand both the complexities of vehicle accident claims and product liability cases involving defective airbags.
With over 30 years of experience protecting crash victims’ rights, we know how to investigate these incidents thoroughly and pursue compensation from all responsible parties, including negligent drivers, vehicle manufacturers, and airbag suppliers.
How Stewart Law Offices Car Accident Lawyers Can Help With Airbag Injuries In Charlotte, NC
Airbag injury cases often involve multiple legal issues, potentially including a claim against a negligent driver and a product liability claim for a defective airbag. At Stewart Law Offices, our Charlotte auto accident attorneys manage both aspects to maximize your recovery. We thoroughly investigate the cause of your injuries, collaborating with accident reconstruction and medical experts.
This includes determining whether the airbag functioned improperly and contributed to your harm; for example, if it:
- Deployed too aggressively.
- Failed to deploy when it should have.
- Contained manufacturing defects that made it dangerous.
We will aggressively identify all possible sources of compensation on your behalf. This may involve:
- The at-fault driver’s insurance.
- Your own underinsured motorist coverage.
- Claims against vehicle or airbag manufacturers.
While you concentrate on your recovery, we are prepared to fight tirelessly for the compensation you deserve. Our firm has a strong track record of recovering millions of dollars for accident victims.
Common Airbag Injuries
While airbags prevent many fatalities and catastrophic injuries, their deployment involves tremendous force that can cause various injuries:
Burns
Airbags inflate through a rapid chemical reaction, which can generate heat. This process, combined with friction against the skin, sometimes results in abrasions or thermal burns on the face, arms, or chest. While many burns are superficial, more severe cases can require ongoing treatment.
Broken Bones
The speed at which airbags expand can place extreme pressure on bones, particularly:
- Ribs
- Collarbone
- Wrists
- Shoulders
These fractures often occur when a passenger is sitting too close to the airbag or during a high-force crash.
Head and Neck Trauma
Though airbags reduce the likelihood of skull fractures and direct head impact with the dashboard, deployment can still contribute to head and neck injuries, such as:
- Concussions
- Whiplash
- Cervical strains
- Soft tissue trauma
These injuries may not appear immediately and can worsen if untreated.
Internal Injuries
The rapid force of an airbag can lead to internal trauma, including damage to organs, internal bleeding, or bruising of the chest and abdomen. Internal injuries are particularly dangerous because they may not be obvious right after a crash.
Back Injuries
Airbag impact combined with the violent motion of a collision can affect the spine, leading to:
- Spinal disc injuries
- Lumbar strains
- Chronic back pain following car accidents
Prompt evaluation and documentation are crucial for treatment and legal evidence.
Disfigurement
Airbag deployment can cause severe facial injuries, resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement from deep lacerations or burns. Broken facial bones can lead to permanent deformities, even after surgery.
When to Seek Medical Attention After Airbag Deployment
Always seek immediate medical evaluation after any accident involving airbag deployment, even if you feel fine initially. Many serious airbag injuries don’t produce immediate symptoms. Concussions, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries can worsen over hours or days without proper treatment. Prompt medical care also creates essential documentation linking your injuries to the accident, which strengthens your legal claim.
Visit an emergency room if you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe headaches, vision changes, loss of consciousness, numbness, confusion, or any other concerning symptoms after an airbag deploys.
Visit Our Auto Injury Attorneys in Charlotte
Contact Our Charlotte Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Airbag injuries can be painful, expensive to treat, and may result in permanent complications. Whether your injuries resulted from another driver’s negligence or from a defective airbag, you deserve full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
At Stewart Law Offices, we work on a contingency fee basis; you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our team will handle all aspects of your case while you focus on recovery. Call (704) 521-5000 or contact us online for your free consultation today.